Q How do the personal beliefs, experiences, and emotions of smokers influence their perceptions of cancer risk?

DESIGN

Qualitative study using grounded theory analysis.

SETTING

A university dental clinic in New York, New York, USA.

PARTICIPANTS

15 smokers who were 18–79 years of age (67% men, 47% white), were fluent in English, and had no cancer history. 9 participants
smoked ⩽1 pack daily, and 6 smoked >1 pack daily. 12 participants had previously tried to stop smoking.

METHODS

Participants were interviewed for 45 minutes. They were asked to describe behaviours, thoughts, and feelings that arose when
they heard about a famous person’s death from cancer, a family member’s diagnosis, a media report about a cause of cancer,
or discussion about a recent situation pertaining to cancer. Participants were also asked to think aloud while looking at
10 established cancer risk perception questions to give insight into how participants thought about risk perceptions. Interviews
were audiotaped, transcribed, and analysed using grounded theory methods.